Kinect for Windows SDK rumored to be in the works

By Aemon Malone January 19, 2011

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced during CES that Kinect will make its way to the PC “at the right time.” And according to WinRumors the “right time” may be approaching.

The website reports that Microsoft is currently working on an official software development kit (SDK) and a set of drivers for a Windows version of Kinect, with plans to release the tools to developers in beta form sometime in the near future.

Releasing the SDK and drivers would be the first step towards official PC support for the Kinect. Third-party developers need the SDK and drivers to design PC programs that make use of the device’s motion-sensing capabilities.

WinRumors reports that the release will happen “in the coming months.” Microsoft is expected to offer support for Kinect in Windows 8. WinRumors cites an unnamed source who indicates that the PC Kinect will figure into a “technical community preview” of Microsoft’s upcoming XNA Game Studio tools.

Hackers have already brought the Kinect — unofficially — to the PC. One such hack enabled the accessory to control gameplay in World of Warcraft.

Long before Ballmer confirmed it, the Kinect’s status as a run away hit ensured Microsoft would consider porting the device to Windows. As an Xbox 360 accessory, the Kinect topped eight million units sold in its first 60 days on the market — out performing sales expectations by three million units or so.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Computing

How to factory reset Windows 10 or Windows 11

Windows 10 Home vs. Pro

If you’re dealing with a sluggish or unresponsive computer, you may be close to just giving up. While your misery is understandable, don’t throw in the towel just yet. Before you ditch your computer and spend hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on a new one, there’s one last trick that can save you time and money: A factory reset.

Follow the steps below to easily and successfully reset your Windows 10 or 11 PC to its clean factory setting. And if you're running into regular slowdowns, check out our guide on how to speed up Windows, too.
First, back up your computer
Before you reset your system, you’ll want to back up important information that you don’t want to lose. This includes documents, photos, music, and movies, but there are other items to back up as well. Make sure that you know all of your saved passwords, export all of your browser bookmarks, and have installation files for all the software you’ll want to reinstall -- or know where to get them.
Also, make sure you back up app-specific data, like custom filters saved in a photo utility, save files from your favorite games, and back up emails if using an offline client.

Computing

Windows 11 is ditching this almost 20-year-old classic feature

The new snipping tool in Windows 11.

People don't like change, especially when it comes to Windows. As if centering the taskbar in Windows 11 wasn't enough, Microsoft is now going to alter a Windows keyboard shortcut that's been around forever. We're talking about Print Screen, commonly written as PrtSc on keycaps, which currently takes a full-screen screenshot of the screen and saves it to your clipboard. Of course, it can also be used in combination with various keys for other screenshotting shortcuts.

But in recent years, Microsoft has been pushing its separate app, Snipping Tool, which was a modern replacement for Snip & Sketch. Compared to using Print Screen, though, Snipping Tool is a more effective and full-featured way of capturing, saving, and editing screenshots. There's no need to paste your screenshot into Paint just to save it. It can also record video of your screen.

Computing

Someone just used ChatGPT to generate free Windows keys

A MacBook Pro on a desk with ChatGPT's website showing on its display.

ChatGPT is an incredibly capable piece of tech, with a huge number of interesting uses. But, perhaps inevitably, people have put it to use for less noble purposes. Now, someone has used it to generate valid Windows license keys for free.

The discovery was made by YouTuber Enderman, who used ChatGPT to create license keys for Windows 95. Why Windows 95? Well, support ended for it 20 years ago, so this was essentially an exercise in curiosity from Enderman rather than an attempt to crack more modern versions like Windows 11.